Spectacular beach art that's destroyed at high tide

By Hiufu Wong, CNN

Updated 6:27 AM ET, Fri February 21, 2014

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Artist with a rake – Andres Amador started doing "earthscape art" in 2004. He'd been studying prehistoric geometric art when he had "a bolt from the heavens" while in Hawaii, realizing he could use his new knowledge to create art himself.

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Earthscape canvas – "At first, when I was only working on the beach, I was calling them 'playa paintings,' and I still use that name for the art on the beach," Amador tells CNN. "After I began using ... other materials and locations, I started calling my art 'earthscape.'"

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Connections – Amador has created hundreds of beach murals, sometimes integrating aspects of the natural landscape in his work.

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Inspiration – "All the ancient architectural marvels, such as the pyramids found all over the world, were made without the use of complicated tools," says Amador, who uses only a rake and rope. "They were the result of geometric insights that offer amazing power."

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Nothing lasts forever – All his work eventually is washed away by the sea, or spoiled by dogs or other beach visitors. "If the journey is one that enriches the inner being, then regardless of where it leads one will feel fulfilled," he says.

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Sandy proposal – Amador's work has been featured in a successful marriage proposal (image shown). He's also been commissioned to produce pieces for memorial services and a car company.

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Tidal power – A good beach for earthscape art has to be wide and flat, with a high tide followed by a very low tide, to provide enough space and time to work, Amador says.

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Coastline king – Most of Amador's work so far has been produced on beaches in northern California. But he's also ventured to Mexico and the Channel Islands to create his art.

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Next stops – The equatorial region doesn't usually experience low enough tides to be used as a sand canvas. Amador would like to explore places in northern latitudes in which the tides can go out for miles, as well as Portugal and Australia.

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Other work – When he's not drawing on the beach, Amador creates other sculptural installations.

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Story highlights

Artist Andres Amador started drawing on beaches with rake and rope in 2004

He draws geometric patterns on beaches over areas up to 9,300 square meters

Amador doesn't mind that they wash away

Not many people can combine a dream vacation with their place of work.

But not many people "work" by drawing pictures in the sand on the beach.

He uses rope and a rake to create large geometric drawings on beaches.

His work can span an entire beach -- often covering 9,300 square meters (100,000 square feet) in area -- and usually takes little longer than two hours to create.

That's useful, for his canvas is ephemeral, often subject to rogue waves, high tides (he always sculpts during low tide) and dogs.

None of that fazes the former computer technician, who has so far drawn hundreds of short-lived artworks on around 30 beaches in the United States, Mexico and the Channel Islands.

He's been commissioned to create backdrops for marriage proposals, memorial ceremonies, commercial artwork for a car company and offers workshops for people who want to learn how to create their own beach art.

"Ultimately, when it is finished, I let it go," he says. "For me the energy and draw is around the act of creation."

"[I drew] one circle and [explained to my friend] the meaning it has had for people; two overlapping circles and the line between their centers; three overlapping circles which form a triangle," Amador tells CNN.

"The needs I have in a beach have been such that there are few that are available to me," says Amador.

"I need a large beach that is relatively flat. Then I need a high high tide followed by a low, low tide. These occur several times of the month.

"At these times the canvas I have to work with is maximized. Other considerations are the scenery of the beach and the quality of the sand -- some dries faster than others.

"I also appreciate beaches without a lot of traffic, particularly dogs -- they're the worst for creating scars in the sand."

Amador hopes to inspire people to "follow what brings you joy."

"I did this art for many years without pay simply because it was so enlivening to do so," says Amador. "If I can inspire others, I hope that I can offer the message that the path is more important than the destination -- that the journey should be the focus.

"When one is experiencing joy, then the world also receives that joy. And the world can always use more joy."